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You see, when I ran for governor I said that I believed Californiacould recover; that it could reform; and it could rebuild.  That was my goal then and that is my goal now. 

 

We will continue to fight for recovery and for reform.  If it is pension reform, education reform, redistricting reform or if it is budget reform – we will fight for all of those reforms.

 

But here is where I believe we Republicans must begin to change our outlook.  We cannot just fight; we must build.  We cannot just follow; we must lead. 

 

Two years ago when I ran for governor, no one in this state could define a vision for California.  I know because I asked.  I asked politicians.  I asked business leaders.  I asked educators.  I asked experts in think tanks.  I asked everybody.  No one knew California's plan for the future because we didn't have one. 

 

Now, the whole state is talking about it.  There is a sizzle up there in Sacramento.  Democrats and Republicans are debating over California's future for the first time in decades and that is fantastic.  I love it.

 

When I immigrated here in 1968, Californiawithout any doubt was the greatest state in the nation.  We had the best universities, the best highways, the best future.  And As I have said before, I believe in the future of Californiaevery bit as much today as the day when I first moved here. 

 

And you would not be involved in politics if you didn't have the same optimism as I do.  You understand better than most that the future is not something that you wait on; it is something you achieve.  It is something that you make happen. 

 

These years let me say, I tell you, these years at the beginning of the 21st Century are absolutely critical for California.  These years will determine whether we maintain our greatness, our strength, our vitality or let it pass just from us.